ROY Hodgson believes James Morrison is leading West Brom's player-of-the-season race.

The midfielder has flourished this season, scoring three goals but also producing a series of eye-catching performances.

The Scotland international could easily have bagged a hat-trick on Saturday, twice hitting the frame of the goal, going close with another but also netting Albion’s first.

Hodgson has been impressed, not least as he has placed a great deal of stock in the midfielder’s value.

“I think he has had a good season so far,” said Hodgson.

“Touch wood, he’s been playing very well for a while now and has been up there among our best players for quite a while.

“It’s nice for me to see him get the recognition.

“I’ve recognised it – I think he has been excellent.

“When he plays centrally, in particular, he’s done some very good work, and when he’s had to go wide and do a job for the team.

“When you take the 24 games we’ve had this season, he’d be right up there with the best performers and it’s good to see him continue it, and his confidence is good as a result of it.

“When I came in I took him on board as a relatively senior member of the squad and a player who I knew was a gifted player.

“I don’t have the information on what he was like before that injury.

“But in the time I’ve been here he has been one of the most consistent performers and I would think he has played the bulk of the games.”

Another player who caught the eye in Saturday’s game at Stoke was fellow midfielder Graham Dorrans.

The ex-Livingston man has struggled so far to consistently reproduce his Championship form of two years ago.

Yet Hodgson has been encouraged with his potential, even though it remains unfulfilled so far.